Dimitri Payet is hit by water bottle thrown from the stands in ANOTHER Ligue 1 crowd incident as Lyon’s clash with Marseille is suspended in grim scenes
The Ligue 1 clash between Lyon and Olympique Marseille was suspended early in the first half after Dimitri Payet was struck in the head by a bottle thrown from the stands.
The former West Ham midfielder was about to take a corner kick in front of the home fans at the Groupama Stadium, when he was hit by an object launched towards the pitch.
Payet immediately appeared hurt, clutching his head in his hands and taking a few gingerly steps, before falling onto the turf.
Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet was hit in the head by a water bottle thrown by Lyon fans
Marseille players and referee Ruddy Buquet immediately rushed over to attend to the France international, while Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes remonstrated with the home fans.
Payet eventually got to his feet and was treated by Marseille’s medical staff, while the referee suspended the game.
It’s the second time the 34-year-old has been hit by missile launched from the stands this season.
Payet was about to take a corner in front of the Lyon fans when he was struck by a projectile
The 34-year-old immediately clutched his head in pain after being struck by the bottle
Payet fell to the turf in agony, before being attended to by his teammates and the medical staff
Ligue 1 has been marred by crowd trouble this season, with several incidents involving Marseille.
In August, Payet was struck by a projectile towards the end of the second half of his team’s clash with fierce rivals Nice.
He reacted angrily and had to be held back by some of his teammates, but still managed to throw the bottle back into the stands.
The gesture sparked an angry reaction from Nice fans, who breached the security cordon formed by the stewards and stepped onto the pitch to confront the former Hammers man.
The referee suspended the game after Payet was struck on the head by a water bottle
Marseille and Lyon players were ordered off the pitch after playing for just four minutes
As furious supporters stepped onto the pitch, the referee was forced to suspend the game, while Marseille players and staff stepped in to defend Payet and a fight broke out involving players and staff from both teams, fans and stewards.
Marseille physio Pablo Fernandez was handed a one-year touchline ban for punching one of the Nice fans.
Lens, meanwhile, were ordered to play two games at home behind closed doors after crowd trouble during their match against Lille.
In September, meanwhile, Marseille and Angers fans brawled onto the pitch following a goalless draw, with rival supporters trading blows after breaching a security cordon.